Rapid detection of the &#34;high virulent&#34; st-17 clone of group b streptococcus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to polynucleotides enabling the rapid, simple and specific detection of Group B  Streptococcus  highly-virulent ST-17 clones. 
     The present invention also relates to the polypeptides encoded by said polynucleotides, as well as to antibodies directed or raised against said polypeptides. 
     The present invention also relates to kits and methods for the specific detection of Group B  Streptococcus  highly-virulent ST-17 clones, using the polynucleotides, the polypeptides or the antibodies according to the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to polynucleotides enabling the rapid, simple and specific detection of Group B Streptococcus highly-virulent ST-17 clones.

The present invention also relates to the polypeptides encoded by said polynucleotides, as well as to antibodies directed or raised against said polypeptides.

The present invention also relates to kits and methods for the specific detection of Group B Streptococcus highly-virulent ST-17 clones, using the polynucleotides, the polypeptides or the antibodies according to the invention.

BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART

Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a capsulated Gram-positive bacterium that can be found in the gastro-intestinal and genito-urinary tracts of up to 40% of healthy adults. This commensal organism can be considered as a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the developed countries (Schrag etal., 2002).

The most predictive factor of neonatal infection by GBS relates to the transmission of S. agalactiae from the mother to the neonate. This contamination generally occurs during the crossing of the genital tract, through inhalation and ingestion of contaminated amniotic liquid. It is estimated that at least 50% of newborns exposed to GBS will be colonized and that 2% will develop an infection (Schuchat, 1999). Invasive GBS infections in newborns frequently result in pneumonia and bacteraemia (approximately 80% of cases), less commonly in meningitis (10%), and death in rare instances (4%) (Schuchat, 1999). GBS-induced meningitis can lead to significant morbidity, resulting in severe neurological damage.

Approximately 80% of GBS neonatal infections occur within the first week of life and are thus designated early-onset diseases (EOD). Most of the cases of EOD are clinically apparent on the day of birth or within the first 72 hours. Late-onset diseases (LOD) usually occur in infants between 1 week and 3 months of age.

To date, nine capsular serotypes of GBS have been described: Ia, Ib, and II through VIII. Among these, serotype III GBS strains are of particular importance, as they are responsible for the majority of invasive neonatal infections and for nearly all neonatal meningitis cases in North America and Europe.

Studies also suggested that only a limited number of strains of serotype III, defined as “highly-virulent clones”, can cause a large majority of neonatal invasive diseases, and almost all meningitis cases. Recently, molecular epidemiological studies demonstrated that most GBS strains responsible for invasive neonatal infections belong to a homogeneous serotype III clone designated ST-17 (Jones et al, 2003; Luan et al, 2005).

Among the strategies set up to decrease neonatal infection by GBS, the implementation of selective intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis, based on either screening-strategies or risk-analyses, has lowered the incidence of EOD in the United-States and other western countries, but not that of LOD (Schrag, 2004). As progress continues to be made in EOD prevention, LOD now represents a growing proportion of all GBS neonatal infections (Schrag, 2004). Moreover, the implementation of prophylactic guidelines has increased the use of antibiotics, leading to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in both GBS and in other perinatal pathogens.

An alternative strategy would be the early identification of highly virulent GBS in order to set up a targeted antibiotic prophylaxis.

The current recommendations to prevent Group B streptococcal disease involve screening for GBS colonization in pregnant women at 34 to 38 week gestation to identify candidates for intrapartum antibioprophylaxis. However, the culture method remains the “gold standard” technique to detect the presence of GBS in vaginal secretions. Although the culture method allows an efficient identification of GBS members, it however fails to distinguish the potentially high-virulence clones from the others.

Recent epidemiological molecular methods have proven to be powerful techniques for the characterization of phylogenetic lineages among GBS isolates pertaining to the same serotype. Among these methods, multilocus sequencing typing (MLST), multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), pulse—field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), restriction digest pattern and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) have been especially used.

However, these techniques are fastidious and time consuming and cannot be used routinely in obstetric settings to test for the presence of highly-virulent ST-17 strains during pregnancy or at the time of delivery.

Thus, the characterization of genes specific for highly virulent GBS strains would be of major clinical importance, not only to limit the use of antibiotics, but also for the follow-up of neonates colonized by such highly virulent strains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention relates to the identification of a ST-17 specific allele of the gene gbs2018, thereby rendering possible the rapid and efficient detection of infection due to highly-virulent serotype III GBS strains.

In particular, the present invention relates to polynucleotides consisting of said gene or of fragments thereof.

The invention also relates to the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides defined herein.

The invention also relates to polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides defined herein.

The invention further encompasses methods of detection of the presence of ST-17 strains in a biological sample.

Another aspect of the invention concerns kits for detection of GBS ST-17 strains from a biological sample.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a polynucleotide selected from the following group:

-   -   a) a group B Streptococcus gene encoding a surface protein         Gbs2018 of a strain of the ST-17 clone, wherein said gene         comprises a nucleic acid sequence having the sequence S10 (FIG.         3b ) of SEQ ID NO 5, and which further comprises a domain         consisting in at least one nucleic acid sequence having at least         one of the sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 and/or the         sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15;     -   b) a polynucleotide hybridizing in stringent conditions with the         gene of a);     -   c) a fragment derived from a group B Streptococcus gene defined         in a) or a corresponding fragment derived from a polynucleotide         hybridizing in stringent conditions with the gene defined in a),         wherein such fragment is suitable for use in a process for the         specific detection of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone or codes         for a polypeptide comprising epitopes of said surface protein         Gbs2018;     -   d) a polynucleotide which is substantially complementary to a         fragment of said gene defined in a) or of said polynucleotide         defined in b), or of said fragment defined in c) and which is         suitable for use in a process for the specific detection of a         GBS strain of the ST-17 clone or codes for a polypeptide         comprising epitopes of said surface protein Gbs2018;     -   e) with the proviso that the polynucleotide is not the gene         having the coding sequence designated gbs2018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) of         SEQ ID NO 1.

A particular polynucleotide of the invention is one which is selected from the following group:

-   -   a) a group B Streptococcus gene encoding a surface protein         Gbs2018 of a strain of the ST-17 clone, wherein said gene         comprises a nucleic acid sequence having the sequence S10 (FIG.         3b ) of SEQ ID NO 5, and which further comprises a domain         consisting in at least one nucleic acid sequence having at least         two copies of the nucleic acid sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ         ID NO 13 or of the nucleic acid sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ         ID NO 15 or at least one copy of each nucleic acid sequences         S11a and S11b;     -   b) a polynucleotide hybridizing in stringent conditions with the         gene of a), including hybridizing with the S10 segment and the         two segments either identical or different, selected among the         group of S11a segment and S11b segment;     -   c) a fragment derived from a group B Streptococcus gene as         defined in a) or derived from a polynucleotide hybridizing in         stringent conditions with said gene, wherein such fragment is         suitable for use in a process for the specific detection of a         GBS strain of the ST-17 clone or codes for a polypeptide         comprising epitopes of said surface protein Gbs2018;     -   d) a polynucleotide which is substantially complementary to a         fragment of said gene defined in a) or of said polynucleotide         defined in b), or of said fragment defined in c) and which is         suitable for use in a process for the specific detection of a         GBS strain of the ST-17 clone or codes for a polypeptide         comprising epitopes of said surface protein Gbs2018.

In a particular embodiment, the defined fragments of the invention are suitable for use in a process for the detection, especially for the specific detection, of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone.

The expression “substantially complementary” as used herein means that the considered polynucleotide is either fully complementary to the polynucleotide of reference, or that it is different from the letter at some positions (having nevertheless substantially the same length) with the proviso that it hybridizes in stringent conditions with the polynucleotide of reference.

As used therein, “polynucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid which is different from the genome of S. agalactiae. In a particular embodiment, such a polynucleotide is derived from the genome of S. agalactiae and especially is a gene or a fragment of a gene of S. agalactiae. In that case, the polynucleotide is isolated or purified, i.e., is separated from its natural environment in the genome. The polynucleotide of the invention said to be derived from the genome of S. agalatiae comprises and in particular reflects the genetic information which is contained in the sequence which is its counterpart in the genome.

The polynucleotide of the invention can accordingly have a sequence which has an exact counterpart in the genome of the S. agalactiae from which its derives or a substantial counterpart, meaning that its nucleotide composition can vary with respect to said sequence in the genome, to the extent that the modification in the sequence does not essentially affect the property of the obtained polynucleotide to hybridize in stringent conditions with the genomic sequence from which it derives.

Hence, a polynucleotide derived from the gbs2018 gene can bear substitution, addition or deletion of some of the nucleotide(s) of the original gene.

The polynucleotide of the invention can be prepared having recourse to any available methods, including extraction from the genome, involving for example use of restriction enzymes and/or synthesis, including chemical synthesis, and/or recombinant technology.

Any ex vivo generation method and the like, as well as combinations thereof is suitable for such preparation. In a specific embodiment, these methods may comprise extraction of the nucleic acid from its natural environment for example by hydrolyzation with restriction enzymes, followed by amplification of the polynucleotide of interest and/or synthesis, especially chemical synthesis.

The term “polynucleotide” is used interchangeably with “nucleic acid” and “oligonucleotide” and includes, but is not limited to DNA, RNA, a combination of DNA and RNA sequences of more than two nucleotides. The polynucleotide of the invention is either double stranded or single stranded.

By “gene”, it is meant a nucleic acid molecule whose nucleotide sequence comprises or consists in a sequence encoding a polypeptide, i.e., comprises or consists in an ORF (Open Reading Frame). Hence, a gene according to the invention encompasses a nucleic acid molecule whose sequence does not comprise promoter sequences or regulation sequences that are usually placed upstream or downstream of the coding sequence. In such a case the gene is the molecule restricted to the coding sequence. The expression “gene” also encompasses the molecule having both the coding sequence for a polypeptide and regulatory sequences including promoter and/or terminator sequences. Said regulatory sequences can be the native sequences present in the genome of reference of S. agalactiae or can be heterologous sequences, i.e., sequences that are not naturally associated with the coding sequence in the genome.

In a particular embodiment, the word “gene” refers to the gbs2018 gene of a Group B Streptococcus of the ST-17 clone. A particular gbs2018 gene can be illustrated by the polynucleotide gbs21018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) of SEQ ID No 1.

As used herein, “the ST-17 clone” refers to bacterial strains belonging to the Streptococcus agalactiae strains, also known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and more particularly belonging to the “type III” GBS serotype, especially belonging to the phylogenetic lineage of high-virulent strains [Jones N et al., 2003; Luan SL et al., 2005]. Identification and characterization of the sequence type implies known methods including but not limited to, culture methods or molecular methods such as multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), multilocus sequencing typing (MLST), pulse-field gel electophoresis (PFGE), restriction digest patern, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and the like, as well as combinations thereof. The inventors have carried out genetic studies on various Sequence Types of GBS strains and have achieved a phylogenic tree comprising three clusters, i.e., clusters A, B and C wherein cluster C represents and contains only strains of Sequence Type 17. ST-17 comprises, especially, the following strains CCH56, CCH63, CCH76, CCH71, CCH77, CCH60, CCH80, CCH81, CCH69, CCH73, CCH82, BM110 [Musser J M et al., 1989; Stålhammar-Carlemalm M, 1993], NEM623, COH1 [Wessels M R and al., 1989] and NEM318 [Gaillot et al., 1997].

One particular example of ST-17 strain is the Streptococcus agalactiae NEM318, deposited at the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (C.N.C.M.), INSTITUT PASTEUR, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75724 PARIS CEDEX 15, under the accession number CNCM I-3537 on Dec. 2, 2005. NEM318 is a serotype III, tetracycline resistant strain of ST-17 type clone [Gaillot et al., 1997]. NEM318 is grown at 37° C. in Todd Hewitt medium, whether in liquid culture under shaking, or on agar plates.

The terms “segment S10” or “S10”, as used in the present application, refer to a polynucleotide or segment that is specific of the allelic form of the gene gbs2018 of a GBS strain of the Sequence Type 17 i.e., it is not found in strains of serotype III which are not ST-17 strains. The “segment S10” or “S10” can be defined as an internal region of the gbs2018 gene following the N-terminal sequence of the gene which is shared by the GBS strains. A particular polynucleotide corresponding to the S10 segment has for example 570 nucleotides and has the nucleotide sequence S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID No 5, which is comprised between nucleotide positions 100 and 669 in the sequence of the ST-17 allelic form of the gbs2018 gene of sequence gbs2018-NEM318 (C.N.C.M I-3537 and FIG. 1) of SEQ ID No 1.

The terms “segment S11” or “S11”, as used in the present application, refer to a polynucleotide (or segment) that is specific of the allelic form of the gene gbs2018 of a GBS strain of the Sequence Type 17 i.e., it has not been found in available strains of serotype III which are not ST-17 strains. The “segment S11” or “S11” can be defined as an internal region of the gbs2018 gene. Depending on the ST-17 strains, the ST-17 allelic form of the gene gbs2018 can either contain one or two copies of the S11 segment. By copies, it is meant two S11 sequences that are either identical or different but homologous. Particular homologous polynucleotides for the S11 segment are for example the sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 and the sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15.

In an embodiment, the invention relates to polynucleotides which are gbs2018 genes of a strain of the ST-17 clone comprising one copy of the sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 and one copy of the sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15. Especially, the gbs2018 gene of the invention comprises a domain with contiguous S11a and S11b segments.

The invention also relates to polynucleotides which are gbs2018 genes of a strain of the ST-17 clone comprising two copies of the S11a segment or two copies of the S11b segment, either contiguous or not in the gene.

The invention also concerns the use of polynucleotides which are gbs2018 genes of a strain of the ST-17 clone, wherein only one copy of the S11 segment is present.

But in a particular embodiment, the invention does not encompass the particular gene having sequence disclosed for the COH-1 strain in Tettelin H et al, 2005, corresponding to the sequence gbs2018-NEM318 of SEQ ID NO 1. The invention nevertheless comprises the fragments of said gene as defined in the present application, and the use of the gene and the fragments thereof, as defined in the present application.

It has been shown by the inventors that the S10 and S11 segments in gbs2018 genes are determinant in the classification of a GBS strain as an ST-17 strain (confer FIG. 6). It has also been shown by the inventors that the presence of S10 and/or one or more, especially 2, copies of the S11 segment (either S11a or S11b or combinations thereof as disclosed herewith) allows the discrimination among two sublineages of ST-17 strains, represented on the one hand by strain BM110 (for the strains having two copies of the S11 segment) and on the other hand by strain CO H-1 or strain NEM318 (for the strains having only one copy of one S11 segment).

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the polynucleotide is disclosed with respect to its ability to hybridize with the gbs2018 gene as disclosed herein or to fragments thereof as defined in the application.

In a particular embodiment, the gbs2018 gene against which hybridization capacity is determined is one of the strand of the gene of strain NEM318 deposited at the CNCM under N° I-3537.

In a particular embodiment, the fragment against which hybridization capacity is determined is the S10 fragment or the S11 fragment of the gene of strain NEM318 deposited at the CNCM under N° I-3537 or a fragment complementary thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the fragment derived from the gbs2018 gene as defined in the present application, is defined as being suitable for use in a process for the detection, especially for the specific detection of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone.

According to this embodiment, the strain as such is not necessarily detected but the process enables in vitro detection of an infection by such strain, especially by enabling direct or indirect detection of its DNA or of its polypeptidic products or antibodies directed against said products.

As used herein, “stringent conditions” refers to conditions of hybridization that pertains to the knowledge of the skilled person as defined, for example in Sambrook et al. (Sambrook et Russel. 2001. Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 3^(rd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). For illustration of such conditions suitable to perform the invention, “stringent conditions” correspond to the conditions allowing the specific hybridization of two single stranded DNA molecules after one “washing step”. For instance, the hybridization can be conducted from about 35 to 65° C. using a salt solution, for example a solution comprising SSC 6×, SDS O.5%, Denhardt's solution 5× and 100 μg of non-specific DNA, or in any other solution of equivalent ionic strength. The “washing step”, comprising at least one wash, can be, for example, conducted at about 65° C. in a solution comprising at max 0.2×SSC and at max 0.1% SDS, or in any other solution of equivalent ionic strength. However, the skilled person will be able to vary such conditions as appropriate in order to take into account variables such as the length of polynucleotides sequences, the base composition, the type of ions present, etc.

The use of the fragment suitable in the process for the detection, especially for the specific detection of a ST-17 strain, can for example involve using a fragment which is a target for the detection, or a primer for elongation or amplification, or a probe for the detection, or an amplification or elongation product of the targeted gene sequence, as well as using a fragment which codes for a polypeptide of at least 6 amino acid, said polypeptide being recognized by an antibody according to the invention.

The expression “suitable for” means that the fragment relates to a polynucleotide which is selected and derived from particular regions of the gene gbs2018 of GBS strain that characterize the Sequence Type 17 strains of S. agalactiae or from a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions with, or complementary to, said gene or a fragment thereof. In a particular embodiment, said regions are not found in other strains such as those of serotype III which are not ST-17 strains, or those illustrated in Table S2 below. Accordingly polynucleotides suitable in a process for the detection of ST-17 strains, especially fragments of the gbs2018 gene are those which enable, in a specific process of detection, discrimination between ST-17 strains and other GBS strains of serotype III. Such polynucleotides provide tools for the design of detection processes having sensibility and specificity in accordance with requirements for diagnosis or for the determination of an infection due to an ST-17 strain. In a particular embodiment, such suitable polynucleotides enable the exclusive detection of ST-17 clones.

In an embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or parts of the nucleic acid sequence of the segment S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID NO 5, or whole or parts of the nucleic acid sequence of the segment S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 and/or the segment S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

In a particular embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the oligonucleotide ST-17S (Table S1) of SEQ ID NO 33, whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the oligonucleotide ST-17AS (Table S1) of SEQ ID NO 34, or whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the amplification product ST-17S/ST-17AS (FIG. 5a ) of SEQ ID NO 35 obtained with the primer set consisting of ST-17S and ST-17AS, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

In another particular embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the oligonucleotides O11 (Table S1) of SEQ ID NO 27, whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the oligonucleotide O12 (Table S1) of SEQ ID NO 28 or whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the oligonucleotide O13 (Table S1) of SEQ ID NO 29.

In a further particular embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the amplification product O13/ST-17AS (FIG. 5b ) of SEQ ID NO 36 obtained with the primer set consisting of O13 and ST17-AS, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

In another embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the amplification product O13/O12 (FIG. 5C) of SEQ ID NO 37 obtained with the primer set consisting of O13 and O12, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

In a further embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the amplification product ST-17S/O12 (FIG. 5d ) of SEQ ID NO 38, obtained with the primer set consisting of ST-17S and O12, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

In another embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the amplification product O11/ST-17AS (FIG. 5e ) of SEQ ID NO 39, obtained with the primer set consisting of O11 and ST17-AS, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

In a further embodiment, the expression “suitable for” refers to fragments comprising whole or part of the nucleic acid sequence of the amplification product O11/O12 (FIG. 5f ) of SEQ ID NO 40, obtained with the primer set consisting of O11 and O12, or sequences complementary to these sequences or hybridizing to any of these sequences in stringent conditions.

As used herein, the term “specific” refers to the ability to detect GBS strains of Sequence Type 17 using the means detailed in the present invention. According to another particular embodiment of the present invention, the specific detection of GBS strains of ST-17 in a biological sample enables to discriminate said strain from other micro-organisms comprising, for example, bacteria, viruses or parasites. In a further particular embodiment, GBS strains of ST-17 are detected whereas other Streptococcus strains are not and preferably the detection excludes that other GBS strains be detected in the sample.

A particular polynucleotide suitable to carry out the invention is the gbs2018 gene of sequence gbs2018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) having SEQ ID NO 1 or a fragment thereof as defined above, especially a fragment suitable for use in a process for the detection, especially the specific detection, of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone.

Another polynucleotide of the invention is a fragment which is derived from the S10 segment in a gbs2018 gene in a strain of ST-17 clone.

In a particular embodiment, the polynucleotide is a fragment derived from the S10 segment that has the sequence S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID 5. Especially, this fragment is chosen in such a way that it is suitable for use in a process for the detection, especially the specific detection, of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone.

A particular polynucleotide of the invention is a DNA fragment derived from the gene defined in the application, and having at least 10, especially 10 to 30, especially at least 15, for example 15 to 30, especially at least 20, for example 20 to 30, or 20 to 25 nucleotides. Any specific size within the ranges defined above is encompassed within the frame of the invention, or any range build from the above figures.

Another particular polynucleotide of the invention is a DNA fragment derived from said gene, having 10 to 700, especially at least 50, for example 50 to 700 or at least 100, especially 100 to 500, in particular at least 200, for example 200 to 500, or 200 to 300 nucleotides. Any specific size within the ranges defined above is encompassed within the frame of the invention, or any range build from the above figures. Such polynucleotides are especially amplification products obtained with the oligonucleotides disclosed in the invention, used as amplification primers.

The invention especially relates to a fragment which is selected among:

-   -   a) a polynucleotide having SEQ ID NO 33;     -   b) a polynucleotide having SEQ ID NO 34;     -   c) a polynucleotide having SEQ ID NO 27;     -   d) a polynucleotide having SEQ ID NO 28;     -   e) a polynucleotide having SEQ ID NO 29;     -   f) a polynucleotide which is the amplification product obtained         when amplifying DNA of a GBS strain with a primer set consisting         of SEQ ID NO 33 and SEQ ID NO 34, especially a polynucleotide         consisting of SEQ ID NO 35;     -   g) a polynucleotide which is the amplification product obtained         when amplifying DNA of a GBS strain with a primer set consisting         of SEQ ID NO 29 and SEQ ID NO 34, especially a polynucleotide         consisting of SEQ ID NO 36;     -   h) a polynucleotide which is the amplification product obtained         when amplifying DNA of a GBS strain with a primer set consisting         of SEQ ID NO 29 and SEQ ID NO 28, especially a polynucleotide         consisting of SEQ ID NO 37;     -   i) a polynucleotide which is the amplification product obtained         when amplifying DNA of a GBS strain with a primer set consisting         of SEQ ID NO 33 and SEQ ID NO 28, especially a polynucleotide         consisting of SEQ ID NO 38;     -   j) a polynucleotide which is the amplification product obtained         when amplifying DNA of a GBS strain with a primer set consisting         of SEQ ID NO 27 and SEQ ID NO 34, especially a polynucleotide         consisting of SEQ ID NO 39;     -   k) a polynucleotide which is the amplification product obtained         when amplifying DNA of a GBS strain with a primer set consisting         of SEQ ID NO 27 and SEQ ID NO 28, especially a polynucleotide         consisting of SEQ ID NO 40;     -   l) a polynucleotide which is substantially complementary to one         strand of one of polynucleotides a) to k);     -   m) a polynucleotide which hybridises in stringent conditions         with the polynuclotide of l);     -   n) a polynucleotide which is suitable for targeting a gbs2018         gene of the ST-17 clone or a fragment thereof, for the         amplification and/or the detection of a sequence comprising or         consisting of the S10 and/or the S11 segments of said gene.

A particular polynucleotide fragment of the invention is derived from segment designated S11 in a gbs2018 gene, of a strain of ST-17 clone.

In a particular aspect of the invention, the S11 region has the sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 and/or the sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15.

The invention also relates to a primer set, suitable for use in a process for the detection of DNA of a GBS strain of ST-17 clone or for the detection of products derived from such DNA, wherein said primer set comprises or consists in the following primer pairs:

a) ST-17S having sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34;

b) ST-17S having sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28;

c) O11 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28;

d) O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28 and O13 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 29;

e) O11 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34;

f) O13 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 29 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34;

g) primer pairs which are substantially complementary to primers in a) to f);

h) primer pairs wherein each polynucleotide is suitable for targeting a gbs2018 gene of the ST-17 clone or a fragment thereof, for the amplification of a sequence comprising or consisting of the S10 and/or the S11 segments of said gene.

In a particular embodiment, the primer pair consists of ST-17S having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34.

In a further embodiment, the primer pair consists of ST-17S having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28.

In a further embodiment, the primer pair consists of O11 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28.

In a further embodiment, the primer pair consists of O12 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 28 and O13 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 29.

In a further embodiment, the primer pair consists of O11 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34.

In a further embodiment, the primer pair consists of O13 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 29 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34.

In a further embodiment, the primer pair consists of O13 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and O8 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 24.

The term “primers” refers to a short polynucleotide that can be used in an amplification reaction, thereby rendering possible the amplification. Primers usually possess a sequence which is complementary to the extremities of the polynucleotide sequence to be amplified. Generally speaking, in the case of a sense primer, a larger number of mutations is tolerated at the 5′ end than at the 3′ end of the primer, the 3′ end being required to hybridize perfectly with a specific strand of a nucleotide sequence in order for this sequence to be amplified. In the case of an anti-sense primer, it is at the 3′ end that tolerance is allowed. In a particular embodiment, the amplification does not give rise to the presence of many aspecific bands. Increasing the length of the primers as well as using drastic conditions of amplification increases the specificity of hybridization, thereby making it possible to eliminate parasitic bands.

In a specific embodiment, the primers are selected in whole or parts of the gene gs2018 of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone especially of the strain deposited at the CNCM under N° I-3537. Primers are preferably a fragment of the gene gbs2018 of this strain, and more preferably a fragment of the segment S10 or of the segment S11 of said gene. Primers usually have a size ranging from 10 to 30, preferably from 15 to 30, more preferably from 20 to 30 and still more preferably from 20 to 25 nucleotides. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, primers are selected among the following: ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33, ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34, O11 of SEQ ID NO 27, O12 of SEQ ID NO 28 and O13 of SEQ ID NO 29.

The invention also concerns an amplification product (amplimer or amplicon) consisting of the product of the amplification of a DNA of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone with a primer set according to the invention or comprising said product.

As used therein, “amplification product” refers to a polynucleotide obtained by any known methods including, but not limited to, any chemical method, any synthetic method, any recombinant method, any ex vivo generation method and the like, as well as combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, these methods may comprise cloning, amplification or chemical synthesis.

In a particular embodiment, the “amplification product” refers to the polynucleotide selected between the following:

the polynucleotide of sequence ST-17S/ST-17AS (FIG. 5a ) of SEQ ID NO 35, obtained with the primer set consisting of ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34;

the polynucleotide of sequence O13/ST-17AS (FIG. 5b ) of SEQ ID NO 36 obtained with the primer set consisting of O13 of SEQ ID NO 29 and ST17-AS of SEQ ID NO 34;

the polynucleotide of sequence O13/O12 (FIG. 5c ) of SEQ ID NO 37 obtained with the primer set consisting of O13 of SEQ ID NO 29 and O12 of SEQ ID NO 28;

the polynucleotide of sequence ST-17S/O12 (FIG. 5d ) of SEQ ID NO 38, obtained with the primer set consisting of ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33 and O12 of SEQ ID NO 28;

the polynucleotide of sequence O11/ST-17AS (FIG. 5e ) of SEQ ID NO 39, obtained with the primer set consisting of O11 of SEQ ID NO 27 and ST17-AS of SEQ ID NO 34;

the polynucleotide of sequence O11/O12 (FIG. 5f ) of SEQ ID NO 40, obtained with the primer set consisting of O11 of SEQ ID NO 27 and O12 of SEQ ID NO 28.

In a preferred embodiment, “amplification product” refers to the polynucleotide of sequence ST-17S/ST-17AS (FIG. 5a ) of SEQ ID NO 35, obtained after PCR amplification with the oligonucleotides ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34.

The invention also relates to a recombinant or a chimeric polynucleotide which comprises a polynucleotide according to the invention and a heterologous polynucleotide. A heterologous polynucleotide is one which is not naturally associated with the polynucleotide of the invention. It is especially a polynucleotide derived from another region of the gbs2018 gene or from another gene of a GBS strain, or from another source.

The polynucleotides can be labelled in any manner suitable to enable their recognition. Means for labelling includes also insertion of nucleotides for detection.

The invention also relates to a kit for the in vitro detection of an infection by a GBS strain in a biological sample, which comprises a primer set as defined and means for the detection of the amplification product obtained with said primer set.

A particular kit of the invention further comprises a primer set suitable for the amplification of the DNA of GBS strains, said primer set comprising or consisting in at least two oligonucleotides, wherein at least one oligonucleotide is a sense primer and at least one oligonucleotide is an anti-sense primer, said oligonucleotides being selected between the following :

dltRS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 31;

dltRAS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 32;

O1 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 17;

O2 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 18;

O3 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 19;

O4 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 20;

O5 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 21;

O6 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 22;

O7 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 23;

O8 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 24;

O9 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 25;

O10 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 26;

O14 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 30;

As used herein, the term “kit” refers to a set of elements that are appropriate for the detection of an infection by a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone in a biological sample. In particular, a kit according to the invention comprises at least all the elements that are necessary and sufficient to allow the detection of ST-17 GBS strains such as, for example, one or more isolated polynucleotide sequences according to the invention, as well as the suitable reagents required for the implementation of the detection operation.

In a particular embodiment, detection is achieved through an amplification operation and said reagents comprise, but are not limited to, a DNA polymerase, the four different nucleosides triphosphates and the reaction medium. In a preferred embodiment, the kit comprises at least one set of primers according to the invention corresponding to those defined above.

In another embodiment, the kit comprises at least one probe corresponding to a polynucleotide of the invention, which probe can be a cold probe or can be labelled, in particular by radioactivity, and is capable of hybridizing specifically in the labelled or unlabelled form with the nucleic acid sequence(s) to be detected.

In a specific embodiment, the probe is selected in whole or parts of the gbs2018 gene of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone. The probe is preferably a fragment of the gbs2018 gene of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone, and more preferably a fragment of the segment S10 or of the segment S11 of said gene. The probe usually has a size ranging from 10 to 700, especially from 50 to 700, or alternatively from 10 to 50 or from 10 to 100, or from 100 to 500, or from 200 to 500 or still from 200 to 300 nucleotides.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the probe is selected among the following polynucleotides: ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33, ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34, O11 of SEQ ID NO 27, O12 of SEQ ID NO 28 and O13 of SEQ ID NO 29.

In a preferred embodiment, the kit may comprise at least one positive and/or one negative controls allowing the user to check the validity of the detection result. For instance, a negative control can include, but is not limited to, water, buffer, or any non-ST-17 GBS micro-organism, such as bacteria, viruses or parasites, or nucleic acid sequences thereof. By “non-ST-17 organism”, it is meant an organism that is not identified as a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone using known methods of detection including culture methods or molecular methods such as multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), multilocus sequencing typing (MLST), pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), restriction digest pattern, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

A positive control can include, but is not limited to, any polynucleotide of the invention as defined above as well as any organism containing the polynucleotide of the invention.

Optionally, the kit may further comprise the elements necessary for the sampling of biological samples such as, for example, extraction tools like needles and syringes, collection containers or the like, and combinations thereof, and possibly directions for use. By biological sample, it is meant any sample collected from a biological organism, preferably from a mammalian organism, more preferably from a human organism and most preferably from a pregnant-woman organism or a neonate. In a preferred embodiment, the biological sample is a body fluid such as serum, blood or mucosal secretions, like, for example, secretions originating from mucosal membranes such as nasal, oral, gastro-intestinal, vaginal or anal membranes.

Optionally, the kit may further comprise the elements necessary for the detection of PCR amplification products. For instance, PCR products can be detected with the use of a standard intercalant agent, such as BET or SYBR green, after separation by agarose gel electrophoresis [Huang et al., 2005]. In a further embodiment, amplification products are obtained by real-time PCR and are detected with non-specific fluorescent intercalant agents, such as SYBR green [Whitcombe D et al., 1999]. In another embodiment, amplification products are obtained by real-time PCR and are detected through the use of specific fluorescent probes, such as, for example, the Taqman system [Holland PM et al., 1991], the Molecular Beacon system [Tyagi S et al., 1996], or the FRET (Fluorescence resonance energy transfer) system [Wittwer CT et al., 1997].

The invention also concerns a process for the in vitro detection of a high-virulence GBS strain of the ST-17 clone which comprises detecting the gbs2018 gene or fragments thereof, or DNA products derived from said gene, in a biological sample. In a particular embodiment, said process comprises detecting the S10 segment and/or S11 segment in gbs2018 gene.

A particular process for the detection is one which comprises a step of amplification of the gbs2018 gene or of specific fragment(s) thereof or of DNA product(s) derived from said gene.

A particular process for the detection is one which comprises a step of elongation of the gbs2018 gene or of specific fragment(s) thereof or of DNA product(s) derived from said gene.

In such process, the step of amplification or the step of elongation involves using a primer set preferably comprising or consisting of at least one of the following primer pairs:

a) ST-17S having sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34;

b) O1 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 17 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28;

c) O11 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28;

d) O13 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 29 and O8 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 24;

e) O9 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 25 and O14 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 30;

f) O9 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 25 and O2 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 18;

g) ST-17S having sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28;

h) O12 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 28 and O13 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 29;

i) O11 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 27 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34;

j) O13 having sequence of SEQ ID NO 29 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34;

k) primer pairs which are substantially complementary to primers in a) to j);

l) primer pairs wherein each polynucleotide is suitable for targeting a gbs2018 gene of the ST-17 clone or a fragment thereof, for the amplification of a sequence comprising or consisting of the S10 and/or the S11 segments of said gene, or a fragment of said segments.

In a particular embodiment of said process, the step of amplification or the step of elongation involves using a primer set consisting of ST-17S having sequence of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS having sequence of SEQ ID NO 34.

In a particular aspect of the invention, the amplification is carried out by PCR. Other amplification methods can be used, for example SDA, SSSR, LCR, TMA, NASBA etc.

As used herein, the term “amplification” refers to the multiplication of a target polynucleotide sequence by any known methods including, but not limited to, any chemical method, any synthetic method, any recombinant method, any ex vivo generation method and the like, as well as combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, these methods of amplification may comprise cloning, PCR amplification or chemical synthesis.

In a preferred embodiment, the amplification refers to PCR amplification of the targeted polynucleotide sequences. Said PCR amplification is based on a cycle comprising the following steps:

denaturation of the double stranded nucleic acid to be detected, which leads to the formation of a single stranded nucleic acid,

hybridization of each of the strands of the nucleic acid obtained during the previous denaturation step with at least one primer according to the invention, by placing the strands of said nucleic acid in contact with at least one set of primers according to the invention under stringent hybridization conditions,

formation, starting from the primers, of the DNA complementary to the strands to which primers are hybridized in presence of a polymerization agent (DNA polymerase) and the four different nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs).

Consecutive repetitions of the above cycle lead to the formation of a greater number of double-stranded nucleic acids to be detected than in the previous denaturation step. The cycle is repeated a defined number of times in order to obtain the amplified targeted polynucleotide sequence in an amount sufficient to allow its detection. The agent of polymerization used in the elongation step of the cycle is a thermostable DNA polymerase, in particular a Taq polymerase or any polymerase which is commercially available.

It is obvious that the conditions mentioned in the examples may be modified, depending for example on the origin of the biological sample, the length and sequence of the primers, or the final volume of the reaction mixture.

The process for the detection requires identification of the DNA of high-virulence GBS strains of the ST-17 clone or identification of DNA fragments thereof, or of products derived from said DNA, as a result of the implementation of the process for the detection of the invention. Means enabling the accurate discrimination between the organisms (or nucleic acids thereof) containing the allelic form of the gene gbs2018 specific for the ST-17 strain, and other strains and/or organisms (or nucleic acids thereof) are preferred. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the term “detection” refers to the specific identification of the infection due to GBS strains of the ST-17 clone from a biological sample, and, in a more particular embodiment, detection enables to discriminate strains of the ST-17 clone from other Streptococcus strains and preferably amongst other GBS strains of serotype III. In a still more preferred embodiment, GBS strains of the ST-17 clone are exclusively detected, without allowing the detection of other sequence type GBS strains, neither other Streptococcus strains nor other micro-organisms.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the detection may comprise an amplification operation of whole or part of the allelic form of the gbs2018 gene which is specific from GBS strains of the ST-17 clone, such as, in particular, the nucleic acid sequences of the segments S10 of sequence S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID NO 5, S11a of sequence Slla (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 and/or S11b of sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15, or fragments thereof. Said amplification operation may comprise any known methods including, but not limited to, any chemical method, any synthetic method, any recombinant method, any ex vivo generation method and the like, as well as combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, these methods of amplification may comprise cloning, PCR amplification or chemical synthesis.

In another embodiment, the detection may comprise an hybridization operation with a probe made of a polynucleotide of the invention or derived therefrom. In particular, a probe can be prepared from whole or part of the allelic form of the gbs2018 gene which is specific from GBS strains of the ST-17 clone, such as, in particular, the nucleic acid sequences of the segments S10 of sequence S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID NO 5, S11a of sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 13 or Sub of sequence Sub (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 15, or fragments thereof, or fragments of the gene comprising said S10 and/or S11segments or fragments of said segments. Said hybridization operation mainly comprises the steps consisting in: denaturing the targeted nucleic acids to be detected, contacting the probe with the denatured nucleic acids, recovering the hybrids obtained, for example by a washing step to remove aspecific associations. The conditions of hybridization are those defined in the present application, either above or in the examples.

The process for detection can also comprise means and steps for visualizing the result of the amplification operation or of the hybridization operation. Said visualization means are well known by the person skilled in the art and can include, but are not limited to, chemical, enzymatical or biological labelling means and means capable of identifying chemical, enzymatical or biological labelling, as, for example, cold labelling, radioactive labelling and fluorescence labelling.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the detection process may optionnally comprise the extraction, the separation, the preparation, the purification, and the like, of a biological sample. In particular, the detection may comprise an optional step involving the extraction of the nucleic acids to be detected that are contained into the biological sample. If appropriate, the extraction/purification step can also involve the incubation of the said nucleic acid with a reverse transcriptase if this latter is in the form of RNA.

The invention also relates to a polypeptide encoded by one of the polynucleotides of the invention defined herein. In a particular embodiment, this polypeptide is not the one having the sequence Gbs2018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) of SEQ ID NO 2. The invention nevertheless comprises the fragments of said polypeptide encoded by one of the polynucleotides of the invention, and the use of the polypeptide or of the fragments thereof, as defined in the present application.

A particular polypeptide is a fragment having at least 6 amino acid residues, especially a fragment comprising epitope(s) of the Gbs2018 surface protein of a strain of the ST-17 clone. In a particular embodiment, the fragment is a fragment of the Gbs2018 surface protein of a strain of the ST-17 clone having sequence Gbs2018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) of SEQ ID NO 2.

According to an embodiment the polypeptide is derived from the polypeptidic region designated S10 in the Gbs2018 protein in GBS strains of the ST-17 clone and is selected among:

-   -   the polypeptide S10 segment, especially the polypeptide having         sequence S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID NO 6;     -   a fragment thereof, especially a fragment having at least 6         amino acid residues and containing an epitope;     -   a polypeptide comprising said S10 segment and having at least         190 amino acid residues and less than 550 or less than 300 or         less than 250 amino acid residues.

A particular fragment of the S10 polypeptidic region that has the sequence S10 (FIG. 3b ) of SEQ ID NO 6, is one which is recognized by antibodies directed or raised against the Gbs2018 surface protein.

According to an embodiment the polypeptide is derived from the polypeptidic region designated S11 in the Gbs2018 protein in GBS strains of the ST-17 clone and is selected among:

-   -   the polypeptide S11a segment, especially the polypeptide having         sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 14;     -   the polypeptide Sub segment, especially the polypeptide having         sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 16;     -   a fragment thereof, especially a fragment having at least 6         amino acid residues and containing an epitope;     -   a polypeptide comprising said Slla segment and having at least         72 amino acid residues and less than 550 or less than 300 or         less than 250 amino acid residues;     -   a polypeptide comprising said S11b segment and having at least         79 amino acid residues and less than 550 or less than 300 or         less than 250 amino acid residues.

A particular fragment of the S11a polypeptidic region that has the sequence S11a (FIG. 4a ) of SEQ ID NO 14, is one which is recognized by antibodies directed or raised against the Gbs2018 surface protein.

A particular fragment of the Sub polypeptidic region that has the sequence S11b (FIG. 4b ) of SEQ ID NO 16, is one which is recognized by antibodies directed or raised against the Gbs2018 surface protein.

Polypeptides of the invention can comprise an epitope and have 6 to 50, or 6 to 30, or 6 to 15 amino acids, which polypeptide possess the ability of being recognized by antibodies directed to the Gbs2018 surface protein.

In a particular embodiment the polypeptide is derived from a strain of the ST-17 clone and is not recognized by antibodies raised against the Gbs2018 surface protein of other strains of serotype III of GBS.

The invention also relates to a recombinant or a chimeric polypeptide comprising a polypeptide as defined herein and a heterologous polypeptide. A heterologous polypeptide is one which is not naturally associated with the polypeptide of the invention. It is especially a polypeptide derived from another region of the Gbs2018 surface protein or from another surface protein of a GBS strain, or from another source.

The polypeptide of the invention can be in association with a carrier molecule.

The invention also concerns antibodies characterized in that they recognize the GBS surface protein of the ST-17 clone of GBS strains, in particular said surface protein having the sequence Gbs2018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) of SEQ ID NO 2, or a fragment thereof comprising the S10 segment and/or S11 segment. Such fragments have been defined hereabove. Especially, these antibodies recognize the above polypeptides with a higher affinity than other GBS surface proteins of other GBS strains, or do not recognize such other GBS surface proteins.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of antibodies against a polypeptide as defined herein, which process comprises immunizing an animal with said polypeptide and recovering the antibodies raised against said polypeptide.

The invention also relates to a monoclonal antibody directed against a polypeptide as defined herein, said monoclonal antibody recognizing specifically the GBS surface protein of the clone ST-17 of GBS strains, and, in particular, a fragment thereof comprising whole or part of the S10 segment and/or S11 (S11a and/or S11 b) segment. Such fragments have been defined hereabove.

The invention also concerns fragments of herein defined antibodies, including fragments comprising or consisting of whole or part of the variable domain sufficient for recognizing and binding said GBS surface protein.

The invention also relates to the use of the polypeptides defined herein, including the use of the Gbs2018-NEM318 (FIG. 1) polypeptide and fragments thereof, for the applications defined herein, especially for in vitro detection of an infection by a GBS strain, in particular of ST-17 clone, in a biological sample.

A kit for the in vitro detection of an infection by a GBS strain in a biological sample, comprising a polypeptide of the invention or an antibody according to the invention or a fragment thereof, and means for the detection of the antigen/antibody complex obtained with said polypeptide or said antibody or fragments thereof and the biological sample is also encompassed in the invention.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies and fragments thereof, process, kits according to the invention are suitable for use in the detection of a strain of the ST-17 clone of GBS strains in mammals and/or in humans.

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies and fragments thereof, process, kits according to the invention are especially suitable for use in the detection of a strain of the ST-17 clone of GBS strains in pregnant woman, in embryo, in foetus, in neonates and/or a child.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies and fragments thereof, process, kits disclosed in the present invention are means for use in the detection of neonatal invasive infections, neonatal mortality or neonatal morbidity caused by a strain of the ST-17 clone of GBS strains.

In particular, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies and fragments thereof, process, kits according to the invention are suitable for use in the detection of newborn pneumonia, bacteraemia or meningitis caused by the ST-17 clone of GBS strains.

Other characterizing features of the invention will become apparent from the examples and from the figures and they apply, individually or in combination, to the above disclosed elements of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures are provided for illustration and should not be considered as limiting the object of the present invention.

FIG. 1A-B depict the nucleic sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of the gbs2018 gene of the ST-17 strain NEM318. The first line indicates the nucleotide sequence, grouped by codons; the second line indicates the amino acid sequence corresponding to the above codons with the three-letter code. The first codon of translation is shown in bold as well as the stop codon. Numbering of the nucleic acids is at the right end of the first line, whereas numbering of the amino acids is indicated under amino acid residue (third line). The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 1) of the coding sequence of the gbs2018-NEM318 gene contains 1569 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 2) of 522 amino acids.

FIG. 2A-C depict the nucleic sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of the segments S1 (FIG. 2a ), S6 (FIGS. 2b ) and S7 (FIG. 2c ) of the gbs2018 gene of ST-17 strains. The first line indicates the nucleotide sequence, grouped by codons; the second line indicates the amino acid sequence corresponding to the above codons with the three-letter code. Numbering of the nucleic acids is at the right end of the first line, whereas numbering of the amino acids is indicated under amino acid residue (third line). The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 3) of segment S1 contains 99 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 4) of 33 amino acids. The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 7) of segment S6 contains 291 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 8) of 97 amino acids. The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 9) of segment S7 contains 180 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 10) of 60 amino acids.

FIG. 3A-B depict the nucleic sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of segments S8 (FIGS. 3a ) and S10 (FIG. 3b ) of the gbs2018 gene of ST-17 strains. The first line indicates the nucleotide sequence, grouped by codons; the second line indicates the amino acid sequence corresponding to the above codons with the three-letter code. Numbering of the nucleic acids is at the right end of the first line, whereas numbering of the amino acids is indicated under amino acid residue (third line). The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 11) of segment S8 contains 192 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 12) of 63 amino acids. The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 5) of segment S10 contains 570 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 6) of 190 amino acids.

FIG. 4A-B depicts the nucleic sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of the segments S11a (FIGS. 4a ) and S11b (FIG. 4b ) of the gbs2018 gene of ST-17 strains. The first line indicates the nucleotide sequence, grouped by codons; the second line indicates the amino acid sequence corresponding to the above codons with the three-letter code. Numbering of the nucleic acids is at the right end of the first line, whereas numbering of the amino acids is indicated under amino acid residue (third line). The nucleic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 13) of segment S11a contains 216 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 14) of 72 amino acids. The nucleic sequence of segment S11b (of SEQ ID NO 15) contains 237 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptidic sequence (of SEQ ID NO 16) of 79 amino acids.

FIG. 5A-F corresponds to the nucleic acids sequences of the amplification products obtained with different primer sets of the invention. The nucleic acid sequence (of SEQ ID NO 35) ST-17S/ST-17AS (208 nucleotides) corresponds to the amplification product obtained with primers ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33 and ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34 (FIG. 5a ). The nucleic acids sequence (of SEQ ID NO 36) O13/ST-17AS (101 nucleotides) corresponds to the amplification product obtained with primers O13 of SEQ ID NO 29 and ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34 (FIG. 5b ). The nucleic acids sequence (of SEQ ID NO 37) O13/O12 (107 nucleotides) corresponds to the amplification product obtained with primers O13 of SEQ ID NO 29 and O12 of SEQ ID NO 28 (FIG. 5c ). The nucleic acids sequence (of SEQ ID NO 38) ST-17S/O12 (214 nucleotides) corresponds to the amplification product obtained with primers ST-17S of SEQ ID NO 33 and O12 of SEQ ID NO 28 (FIG. 5d ). The nucleic acids sequence (of SEQ ID NO 39) O11/ST-17AS (543 nucleotides) corresponds to the amplification product obtained with primers O11 of SEQ ID NO 27 and ST-17AS of SEQ ID NO 34 (FIG. 5e ). The nucleic acids sequence (of SEQ ID NO 40) O11/O12 (549 nucleotides) corresponds to the amplification product obtained with primers O11 of SEQ ID NO 27 and O12 of SEQ ID NO 28 (FIG. 5f ).

FIG. 6A-C: Phylogenetic tree of genes encoding different chimeric forms of the Gbs2018 surface protein in 31 GBS isolates belonging to different sequence types (ST). Alignment and comparison of the DNA sequences of GBS isolates has revealed a three-ways lineage, thereby classifying the gbs2018 allelic forms in three clusters (A, B and C). The percentage sequence divergence is indicated below the tree.

FIG. 7A-C: Mosaic structure of the genes encoding the three allelic forms of the surface protein Gbs2018. Representative members of each phylogenetic cluster (A, B, and C; defined in FIG. 5) are presented.

FIG. 8A-B: Specific detection of ST-17 among GBS isolates. GBS strains were identified by PCR amplifications using primer pairs dltRS/dItRAS (specific for dltR, 234-pb amplicon). Primers ST-17S/ST-17AS (specific for gbs2018-ST-17, 210-bp amplicon) were used to discern ST-17 strains. In panel A, the ten samples tested were GBS strains of serotype III belonging to the ST-17 clonal complexe:1, BM110 ; 2, COH1; 3, NEM318; 4, CCH56; 5, CCH63; 6, CCH80; 7, CCH76; 8, CCH77; 9, CCH81; 10, CCH82. In panel B, the ten GBS strains tested were of different serotypes and belonged to various ST: 1, NEM316 (serotype III, ST-23); 2, GBS 2603V/R (serotype V, ST-19); 3, CCH178 (serotype V, ST-1); 4, CCH75 (serotype III, ST-2); NEM1573 (serotype la, ST-6); CCH53 (serotype Ib, ST-8); NEM1010 (serotype II, ST-9); CCH179 (serotype II, ST-10); CCH180 (serotype I, ST-23); CCH72 (serotype III, ST-41). The molecular weight marker 1 kb Ladder-Plus (Gibco-BRL) was loaded in lane M.

EXAMPLES

The following examples and corresponding figures are provided to illustrate the present invention, and should not be considered as limitations to the scope of the invention. In the same way, the specific means disclosed in the examples are suitable to apply to the above described elements.

Example 1 Identification, Serotyping and DNA Extraction of the GBS Strains

In order to characterize the genetic diversity of the gbs2018 gene, 181 unrelated GBS strains including the three sequenced strains NEM316 serotype III, 2603V/R serotype V, strain A909 serotype Ib (http://www.tiqr.orq/tdb/mdb/mdbinprogress.html), the partially sequenced serotype III strain COH1 and the well-characterized serotype III strain BM110 were studied.

As it is detailed in the table 1 presented below, the collection included 155 human strains from various France geographical origins isolated between 1990 and 2005, 8 strains from various UK geographical origins and 13 bovine mastitis strains.

GBS strain identification was realized using a commercial latex agglutination test (bio Mérieux, Marcy I'Etoile, France), and the strains were serotyped by agglutination using a commercial kit from Essum Corporation (Umea, Sweden). All GBS strains were grown on Columbia agar containing 5% of horse blood at 37° C. under a 5% CO2 atmosphere, and the corresponding stock cultures were stored frozen at —80° C. in Todd-Hewitt broth containing 10% glycerol.

DNA was extracted from bacterial cultures and clinical samples of sixteen clinical isolates representative of different STs.

Total DNA extraction from overnight bacterial colonies was carried out by using the InstaGene™ Matrix (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.).

DNA from vaginal samples was extracted as described in Reglier-Poupet et al., 2005. Briefly, secretions of the mucosa of the lower third of the vagina were obtained with a cotton swab. The same specimen was used for the standard culture and the PCR assay. The swab was discharged and vortexed in 500 μl of sterile PBS. For microbiological cultures and identification of GBS, 100 μl was inoculated on Columbia horse blood agar plates and incubated at 37° C. under 5% CO2 for 18 h. β-Hemolytic colonies and suspected non-hemolytic colonies were identified as GBS by using a commercial latex agglutination test (bioMerieux). For PCR assays, the remaining 400 μl was immediately frozen at −80° C. until extraction. One hundred microliters of the frozen sample was prepared as a crude lysate using a commercial DNA extraction kit according to the manufacturer's protocol (QIAamp DNA minikits, Qiagen Courtaboeuf, France).

TABLE 1 Origin and serotype of GBS isolates used in this study^(a) No of isolates of serotype Origin of GBS strains^(b) Ia Ib II III IV V NT No of strains (%) 176 18 11 12 116 3 10 7 Human origin Neonatal Invasive EOD 26 3 1 0 21 0 1 0 LOD 35 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 Adult invasive 24 4 1 5 10 1 3 0 Carriage vagina 42 5 7 3 25 0 2 0 urine 24 5 2 1 14 0 2 0 other 13 0 0 3 8 0 2 0 Animal origin 13 1 0 0 3 2 0 7 ^(a)Reference GBS strains (NEM316, 2603V/R, BM110, COH1 and A909) used as controls are not included in this table. ^(b)Abbreviations: EOD, early onset disease; LOD, late onset disease; NT, not typable.

Exemple 2 Identification and Characterization of gbs2018 Polymorphism

Extracted DNA was used as a matrix for PCR amplifications. The full-length genes of all allelic forms of gbs2018 were amplified by using primer pair O1-O2 (see table 51 below), respectively located upstream and downstream from the gene.

TABLE S1 Oligonucleotides used in this study. Cluster or Primer SEQ ID NO Sequence (5′ to 3′) Target Reference  O1 17 AAAATAAACGTGGTCCTATCCT gbs2018 A, B, C  O2 18 GGCAAAGTTCTGATGAGGTTTG gbs2018 A, B, C  O3 19 GCAGCGTTTGCTGTATGTAGTGGT gbs2018 A, B  04 20 CTTGAGAACGTCTTGACTGC gbs2018 A, B  O5 21 GGTAAGCAGTCAAGACGTTCTCA gbs2018 A, B  O6 22 AGTTCCCACAGAGTCTGCAT gbs2018 A, B  O7 23 AGCACAGGAAGTTGCCCAGAAA gbs2018 A, B  O8 24 AGCATCACGTAGCTTGTTAG gbs2018 A, B, C  O9 25 GTTGACCAAGCTTATGATCATGTGG gbs2018 A, B, C O10 26 TTGCTAAGAGTGGACTTGCG gbs2018 A, B, C O11 27 GGCTTCAATGTCAGCGGCGTTTAT gbs2018-ST-17 C O12 28 GCTGCATTAAATCCTTCCTGACCA gbs2018-ST-17 C O13 29 CCTCATCGTTACAAAGATTCTG gbs2018-ST-17 C O14 30 AGCCACCAAGTTTCCGCTAGTA gbs2018 A, B, C dltRS 31 TTGACAGGTCTCTATGATTTAGTC dltR A, B, C dltRAS 32 GTCTGGTTCTCAGCCTAATTC dltR A, B, C ST-17S 33 ATACAAATTCTGCTGACTACCG gbs2018-ST-17 C ST-17AS 34 TTAAATCCTTCCTGACCATTCC gbs2018-ST-17 C Vlac1 41 GAATAACACTTATTCCTATC pTCVlac Poyart and Trieu-Cuot, 1997 Vlac2 42 CTTCCACAGTAGTTCACCACC pTCVlac Poyart and Trieu-Cuot, 1997

Sau3A-RFLP analysis of the PCR products revealed considerable structural heterogeneity of the gbs2018 locus, which was not simply due to intramolecular rearrangements (deletion/amplification) within the KPEA repeat segment present in NEM316.

To gain insight into the genetic diversity of the gbs2018 alleles, all sixteen PCR fragments were entirely sequenced on both strands with the corresponding PCR primers (see primers O1 to O14 in table S1). The resulting DNA sequences were assembled using “Codoncode Aligner version 1.3.4” software to produce a full length gbs2018 gene. DNA sequences were then analyzed and compared with “DNA Strider version 1.4f3” and “Clustal X version 1.83”. Finally, a phylogenic tree was generated from alignments of gbs2018 sequences using the neighbour-joining method, with “TreeEdit version 1.01a10” software.

As shown in FIG. 6, the resulting phylogenic tree included the gbs2018 gene of sequenced strains NEM316, 2603V/R, and A909. In the latter strain, the gbs2018-like sequence was interrupted by the insertion sequence IS1381. In order to avoid the generation of an aberrant phylogenic tree, the insertion sequence was removed for this analysis and the sequence A909-delta was, hence, reconstructed in silico. Additionally, the star ST-19* denotes one mutation in one of the seven genes analyzed when compared to the reference sequence. DNA sequences assigned to each cluster (A, B, and C), have different characteristics, whereas sequence variations within a given cluster are due mainly to rearrangements within segments containing repeated sequences (see FIG. 6).

The resulting phylogenetic tree revealed the presence of three major clusters designated A, B, and C:

-   -   Cluster A is divided into 4 sublineages and comprises the         gbs2018 sequences from strains belonging to ST-19 and ST-23,         notably those from the sequenced strains 2603 V/R and NEM316.     -   Cluster B includes sequences from strains belonging to 8         different STs (ST-1, ST-2, ST-7, ST-6, ST-8, ST-9, ST-10, and         ST-41), among which 3 sublineages were identified.     -   Importantly, Cluster C, which contains 2 sublineages, was shown         to be exclusively composed of ST-17 sequences. To confirm this         observation, the gbs2018 variants from 11 additional ST-17 GBS         strains were sequenced, and proved to also belong to cluster C.

The structure of the gbs2018 gene variants was analyzed in detail by using representatives of clusters A (NEM316), B (NEM1010) and C (BM110) as prototype sequences (see FIG. 7). Based on the sequence analysis, the representative members of each phylogenetic clusters A, B, and C, encoding the three allelic forms of the surface protein Gbs2018, were divided into eleven segments, numbered S1 to S11.

Among the eleven segments defined, three were present in all sequences:

-   -   the 5′ segment S1, which encodes the signal peptide;     -   the 3′ segment S8, which encodes the sorting signal made of the         “LPXTG” motif followed by a hydrophobic domain and a positively         charged tail, and;     -   the segment S7, which contains a variable number (n) of repeats         encoding a 4-amino-acid long motif based on the sequence “KPEA”;         with n ranging between 54 and 126 in clusters A and B, and n=45         in cluster C.

Sequence variations within a given cluster were proved to be mainly due to rearrangements within portions containing repeated sequences. Thus, sequence heterogeneity within cluster A appears to be linked to variations in the number of KPEA repeats in S7 (CCH180, NEM1002) or to a deletion removing the S6 segment. Indeed, segment 6 was surprisingly absent from the gbs2018 genes of the three ST-19 strains (Cluster A) analyzed in this study (2603V/R, NEM940, NEM1560). This deletion is likely due to a recombination event between segments S5 and S7, which share 84% of identity over 36 bp.

In cluster B, the sequence diversity seems to correlate with size variation of segment S7, whereas the two sublineages observed in cluster C are probably due to the number of S11 repeats in gbs2018.

Finally, each cluster was found to contain at least one distinctive segment:

-   -   The segment S3 appears to be distinctive of cluster A;     -   The segment S9, containing 9 repeats encoding a 8-amino-acids         long motif based on the sequence “IKAESINT/K”, was only found in         cluster B;     -   The segments S10 and S11 seem specific of cluster C. Remarkably,         two copies of the segment S11, consisting of the segment S11a         followed by the segment S11 b, were found in all but two ST-17         strains (COH1 and NEM318) belonging to cluster C.

Example 3 Development of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Specific Detection of GBS Strains and ST17 Variants in Clinical Samples

Specific primers dltRS and dltRAS were designed to detect GBS strains by PCR. Indeed, this couple of primers allows the amplification of a 234-bp fragment in presence of dltR, a monocopy regulator gene specifically encountered in S. agalactiae [Poyart C. et al., 2001].

Based on the polymorphism of gbs2018 observed in the above-mentioned example 2, the sequence of the C cluster-specific S10 domain was used to design ST-17 specific primers ST-17A and ST-17AS, which would generate a 210-bp amplicon fragment from the gbs2018 specific segment S10.

In both cases, optimized primer sequences were designed with “Beacon Designer 4.01” and their sequences were compared against the Genbank database using BLAST searches to verify the absence of serendipitous similarities.

The real-time PCR assays enabling the detection of GBS strains and ST-17 variants from isolated colonies or from clinical samples using primer pairs ST-17A/ST-17AS and dltRS/dItRAS were conducted in separate reactions.

PCR assays were performed on a LightCycler® 2.0 Instrument (Roche Molecular Diagnostics) in a final volume of 25 μl containing 5 μl of extracted DNA or distilled H2O (for the negative control), 0.45 mM each of sense and antisense primers, 2 μl of 10×LightCycler-DNA Master SYBR Green I (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany), and 4.0 mM MgCl2.

The PCR mixtures were subjected to a precycle of 95° C. for 10 min. The amplification was performed using 40 cycles of 95° C. for 10 sec, 5 sec at 55° C. and 72° C. for 10 sec. At the end of 40 amplification cycles, the reaction was heated to 95° C. and then cooled to 35° C. The reaction product was then subjected to a post-PCR melting cycle or was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

The melting profile was performed using software programs provided in the LightCycler instrument (Version 4.0). In the LightCycler, a positive result for an ST-17 GBS strain gave two curves with melting temperatures (Tm) of 79.5+0.4 (dItR) and 78.5+0.3 (ST-17) respectively, while a non ST-17 GBS strain gave only one melting curve with a Tm of 79.5+0.4.

Positive and negative controls were included in all runs:

-   -   DNA extracted from the reference strain S. agalactiae BM110 was         used as positive control; analytical sensitivity of the method         was assessed by serial tenfold dilutions of BM110 genomic DNA.         The calibrator/positive controls were two dilutions         corresponding to 10³ and 10¹ GBS bacterial genomes.     -   As negative control, water was added instead of DNA.     -   The absence of inhibitors in all negative PCR samples was         checked by using an internal control, in which plasmid DNA was         added at a final concentration of 10 copies per PCR reaction         which allowed amplification of a 125-bp DNA fragment in the         presence of specific primers Vlac1 and Vlac2 (see table S1         above).

Moreover, strict precautions were taken to prevent cross-contamination: thus, procedures performed before and after PCR manipulations were conducted in separate rooms.

The specificity of the PCR assays was also verified using DNA extracted from pure cultures of a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species from the inventors' laboratory collection. These included numerous streptococci and other microorganisms of the normal intestinal and genital flora, as well as bacteria that cause genital tract infections, as it can be seen in the Table S2 below.

TABLE S2 Bacterial strain panels used to test specificity of the real-time PCR assay. Organism Source Organism Source Gram-positive panel Streptococcus agalactiae CIP 103227 T Staphylococcus aureus CIP 65.8 T Streptococcus anginosus CIP 102921 T Staphylococcus auricularis CIP 103587 T Streptococcus bovis CIP 102302 T Staphylococcus capitis CIP 81.53 T Streptococcus canis CIP 103223 T Staphylococcus cohnii CIP 81.54 T Streptococcus constellatus CIP 103247 T Staphylococcus epidermidis CIP 81.55 T Streptococcus cricetus CIP 102510 T Staphylococcus haemolyticus CIP 81.56 T Streptococcus downei CIP 103222 T Staphylococcus hominis CIP 81.57 T Streptococcus dysgalactiae CIP 102914 T Staphylococcus hyicus CIP 81.58 T Streptococcus equinus CIP 102504 T Staphylococcus intermedius CIP 81.60 T Streptococcus dysgalactiae CIP 102914 Staphylococcus lugdunensis CIP 103642 T Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus CIP 103228 T Staphylococcus saprophyticus CIP 76.125 T Streptococcus gallolyticus CIP 105428 T Staphylococcus schleiferi CIP 104370 T Streptococcus gordonii CIP 105258 T Staphylococcus sciuri CIP 105826 T Streptococcus intermedius CIP 102508 T Staphylococcus warneri CIP 81.65 T Streptococcus infantarius Staphylococcus xylosus CIP 81.66 T Streptococcus lutetiensis CIP106849 T Lactococcus lactis MG1363 Streptococcus mitis CIP 103335 T Lactococcus garvieae CIP 102507 T Streptococcus mutans CIP 103694 Abiotrophia defectiva NE1418 Streptococcus oralis CIP 10922 T Granulicatella adiacens CIP 103243 T Streptococcus parasanguinis CIP 104372 T Listeria monocytogenes L028 Streptococcus parauberis CIP 103956 T Bacillus subtilis W163 Streptococcus pasteurianus CIP 107122 T Bacillus cereus CCH collection Streptococcus pneumoniae CIP 102911 T Bifidobacterium breviae CCH collection Streptococcus porcinus CIP 103218 T Corynebacterium pseudogenitalium CCH collection Streptococcus pyogenes CIP 56.41 T Corynebacterium urealyticum CCH collection Streptococcus salivarius CIP 102509 T Lactobacillus casei CCH collection Streptococcus sanguinis CIP 55.1328T Clostridium difficile CCH collection Streptococcus sobrinus CIP 103230 T Clostridium perfringens CCH collection Streptococcus suis CIP 103217 T Peptostreptococcus anaerobius CCH collection Streptococcus thermophilus CIP 102303 T Peptostreptococcus magnus CCH collection Streptococcus uberis CIP 103219 T Peptostreptococcus prevotii CCH collection Streptococcus vestibularis CIP 103363 T Propionibacterium acnes CCH collection Enterococcus avium CIP 103019 T Facklamia hominis CIP 105962 T Enterococcus casseliflavus CIP 103018 T Enterococcus faecium CIP 103014 T Enterococcus durans CIP 55.125 T Leuconostoc mesenteroides CIP 102388 Enterococcus faecalis CIP 103015 T Pediococcus acidilactici CIP 101954 Enterococcus gallinarum CIP 103013 T Stomatococcus mucilaginosus CCH collection Enterococcus hirae CIP 53.48 T Aerococcus urinae CCH collection Enterococcus raffinosus CIP 103329 T Enterococcus solitarius Gram-negative panel Acinetobacter baumannii CCH collection Klebsiella pneumoniae CCH collection Achromobacter xyloxoxidans CCH collection Legionella pneumophila CCH collection Actinobacillus ureae CCH collection Moraxella osloensis CCH collection Aeromonas hydrophila CCH collection Moraxella canis CCH collection Bacteroides fragilis CCH collection Morganella morganii CCH collection Brucella melitensis CCH collection Neisseria gonorrhoeae CCH collection Bulkholderia cepacia CCH collection Neisseria menigitidis CCH collection Campylobacter fetus CCH collection Neisseria mucosa CCH collection Campylobacter coli CCH collection Pasteurella multocida CCH collection Cardiobacterium hominis CCH collection Porphyromonas gingivalis CCH collection Citrobacter diversus CCH collection Proteus mirabilis CCH collection Citrobacter freundii CCH collection Proteus vulgaris CCH collection Eikenella corrodens CCH collection Providencia stuartii CCH collection Enterobacter aerogenes CCH collection Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCH collection Enterobacter cloacae CCH collection Pseudomonas fluorescens CCH collection Escherichia coli CCH collection Pseudomonas stutzeri CCH collection Gardnerella vaginalis CCH collection Salmonella typhimurium CCH collection Haemophilus influenzae CCH collection Serratia marcescens CCH collection Haemophilus parainfluenzae CCH collection Shigella sonnei CCH collection Hafnia alvei CCH collection Stenotrophomonas maltophilia CCH collection Kingella kingae CCH collection Yersinia enterocolitica CCH collection Klebsiella oxytoca CCH collection Mycoplasma hominis CCH collection

Finally, a bacterial collection of 181 GBS strains was thus characterized by PCR using both primer pairs dltRS/dItRAS and ST-17S/ST-17AS in the same reaction. In this analysis, 8 invasive clones previously identified as ST-17 strains were present as positive controls and the sequenced strains NEM316 (ST-23) and 2603V/R (ST-1 9*) were used as negative controls. As expected, primers dltRS/dItRAS yielded the expected PCR fragments with all 181 GBS strains studied whereas primers ST-17A and ST-17AS gave a positive reaction with 50 clinical human isolates. An example of the amplification pattern obtained with the two couples of primers is shown in FIG. 8.

All strains that were screened as PCR-positive with ST-17 primers were also shown to belong to serotype III and all but one revealed to be isolated from human invasive infections (see Table 2 below). In order to evaluate the results obtained by amplification, MLST was carried out for 42 strains and all were confirmed as ST-17 (Table 2). Similarly, MLST was performed on 61 of the remaining 131 ST-17 PCR-negative strains, of which 19 neonatal invasive strains (11 strains from EOD, 7 strains from LOD, and one strain isolated from a 3-year-old child), 19 adult invasive strains, 11 carriage strains, and 12 strains from bovine mastitis, confirmed that none of these belonged to ST-17.

TABLE 2 Characteristics of human GBS isolates according to ST and specific ST-17A/ST-17AS PCR assay. No of PCR+ isolates in ST-17A/ Serotypes Origin ST ST ST-17AS (no of isolates) (no. of isolates) 1 7 0 III (2), V (5) C (3), AI (4) 2 3 0 III (2), II (1) EOD (1), LOD (1), AI (1) 6 1 0 Ib (1) EOD (1) 8 5 0 Ia (3), Ib (2) EOD (1), C (2), AI (2) 9 1 0 II (1) AI (1) 10 6 0 Ib (2), II (3), C (3), AI (3) IV (1) 12 1 0 Ib C(1) 17 50 50 III (50) EOD (15), LOD (28), C (1), AI (4), NI (2) ^(b) 19 11 0 Ia (1), II, (2), EOD (1), LOD (2), III (6), V (1), AI (7), HI (1)^(c) NT (1) 23 12 0 III (5), Ia (4), EOD (4), LOD (3), Ib (3) AI (2), C (2), NI (1)^(d) 41 1 0 III (1) LOD (1) Abbreviations: ST, sequence type; C, carriage strain; EOD, early onset disease; LOD, late onset disease; NI, neonatal invasive; AI, adult invasive strain; HI, human invasive strain; ^(b) GBS BM110 and GBS COHI; ^(c)GBS 2603V/R; ^(d)GBS NEM316

As it is shown in table 2, the most frequent ST found among human strains was ST-23 (14 strains) followed by ST-19 (10 strains), ST-1 (6 strains), ST-8 (5 strains), ST-10 (6 strains), and ST-2 (3 strains); all other STs were represented by one strain.

Finally, 85 vaginal samples from pregnant women collected over a 1 month period (December 2004) were comparatively analyzed using the conventional direct plate culture method for GBS detection and the real-time PCR assay of the present invention:

-   -   The plate culture method identified 13 (15.2%) GBS-positive         cultures after 24 h at 37° C. Serotype distribution (number of         strain) was as follows: III (5), Ia (2), and Ib (6).     -   The real-time PCR assay performed on DNA extracted directly from         the vaginal samples confirmed the presence of GBS in the 13         samples, and that of a ST-17 strain in 2 samples. These results         were further confirmed by MLST. Moreover, the PCR assay was         negative for the 72 remaining samples, and the absence of         inhibitors was assessed using the internal PCR plasmid DNA         control which gave a positive signal in all cases.

Thus, we developed a real-time PCR assay enabling rapid, simple, reliable, and accurate detection of the “highly-virulent” GBS ST-17 lineage on bacterial cultures or directly on vaginal secretions. Using this technique, accurate identification of women and neonates colonised by ST-17 can be readily achieved within less than two hours.

Example 4 Group B Streptococcus Epidemiology Report

58 strains from different geographical French areas and responsible for invasive infections were studied: 28 unrelated neonatal invasive strains and 30 non-redundant strains isolated from adult invasive infections. All strains received were further characterized as indicated: confirmation of the assigned identification and characterization of the antibiotic susceptibility, determination of the capsular serotype by PCR-based molecular serotyping (Poyart et al., 2006), and detection of the hypervirulent ST-17 clone by real-time PCR (as described above and in Lamy et al., 2006).

I. Neonatal Invasive Infections

Among the 58 isolates studied, 28 non-redundant strains were isolated from neonatal invasive diseases and 16 and 12 out of these strains were from early onset disease (EOD; i.e., disease occurring up to 6 days after birth) and from late onset disease (LOD, i.e., disease occurring from 7 days to 3 months of age), respectively (see Table 3).

EOD strains: Ten (62.5%) out of the 16 EOD strains were isolated from blood cultures, 2 of them are isolated from blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluids, and the remaining 6 strains were from gastric samples of neonates with neonatal infection symptoms (breathing difficulty, shock, and pneumonia). Molecular capsular serotyping revealed that the 16 EOD isolates belonged to serotype III (n=8; 50%), Ia (n=6; 37.5%), II (n=1; 6.25%), or V (n=1; 6.25%). The 10 strains isolated from blood cultures were of seroptype Ia (n=5, 50%), III (n=4, 40%), and V (n=1, 10%). Among these strains, the two strains responsible for meningitis were of serotype Ia and III. The 6 strains from gastric fluids belonged to serotypes III (n=4, 66.6%) and Ia (n=2; 33.3%). The PCR-detection of the ST-17 hypervirulent clone was positive for the 8 serotype III EOD strains which included 5 blood isolates, including one isolate responsible for meningitis, and 3 isolates from gastric fluids.

LOD strains: All 12 LOD strains were isolated from blood culture, belonged to serotype III, and were identified as CT-17 clone. Nine out of these 12 isolates (75%) were also recovered from CSF and were responsible for meningitis.

TABLE 3 Characteristics of the GBS neonatal invasive strains Neonatal invasive infection Capsular serotype EOD (%)^(a) LOD (%)^(b) Total Ia 6 (37.5) 0 6 (21.4) Ib 0 0 0 II 1 (6.25) 0 1 (3.6) III 8 (50) 12 (100) 20 (71.4) IV 0 0 0 V 1 (6.25) 0 1 (3.6) VI, VII, VIII 0 0 0 Total 16 (60.7) 12 (39.3) 28 (100) ST-17 clone 8 (50) 12 (100) 20 (71.4) ^(a)EOD (early onset disease); 10 (62.5%) strains were isolated from blood cultures, 2 of them (12.5%) were from blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and 6 (37.5%) strains were from gastric samples. ^(b)LOD (late onset disease); All strains (n = 12) were isolated from blood cultures and among these 8 (72.7%) were also isolated in CSF and were responsible for meningitis.

These results demonstrate that the association between strain invasiveness and ST-17 lineage in neonates with LOD is highly significant (p<.0001) as all 12 invasive strains studies were ST-17. In EOD, the ST-17 clonal complex accounted for 8 out of the 16 strains studied (50%) (p<.01) although it corresponded to 100% of the serotype III strains (n=8). This confirms that a majority of GBS isolates responsible for neonatal invasive infections in France are ST-17. Similar results have also been reported in other countries (Bisharat et al, 2004; Bohnsack et al, 2004; Jones et al, 2006; Lin et al, 2006).

II. Adult Invasive Infections

30 non-redundant strains were isolated from adult invasive infections, sepsis and arthritis being the two main clinical symptomatologies.

The characteristics of these strains are listed in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Characteristics of GBS adult invasive infections. Capsular Number of Adult invasive infection serotype strains (%) Clinical symptomatology Ia 8 (26.6) Bacteraemia (4), arthritis (2), meningitis (1), matenofetal infection (1) Ib 1 (3.3) Bacteraemia (1) II 3 (10) Bacteraemia (3) III 10 (33.3) Bacteraemia (2), arthritis (5), meningitis (2), maternofetal infection (1) IV 0 V 8 (26.6) Bacteraemia (5), arthritis (2), endometritis (1) VI, VII, VIII 0 Total 30 (100) Bacteraemia (15), arthritis (9), meningitis (3), maternofetal infection (2), endometritis (1) ST-17 clone 2 (6.6) Arthritis (1), maternofetal infection (1)

The most prevalent capsular serotypes were III (33.3%), Ia (26.6%), and V (26.6%). Fifteen (50%) out of the 30 strains were isolated from blood cultures and nine (30%) were responsible for arthritis and isolated from an articular punction. No predominance of a capsular serotype was noticed among the strains responsible for bacteraemia and arthritis. Three out of the 30 strains studied were responsible for meningitis (2 serotype III and 1 serotype Ia strains). Among the 10 serotype III isolates of this collection, only two were identified as ST-17 (20%) but none of them was responsible for meningitis.

These results demonstrate that the epidemiology of GBS strains responsible for invasive infection in adults differs drastically from that observed in neonates.

III. Prevalence of the Hypervirulent ST-17 Clone Among Serotype Ill GBS Isolated from Vaginal Samples

In order to study the prevalence of the hypervirulent ST-17 clone among

GBS colonizing vagina of pregnant women, all GBS stains isolated from vaginal samples collected from pregnant women at the Cochin hospital during a one-year period (from Jan. 6, 2005 to Jan. 6, 2006) were studied. All serotype III GBS detected by agglutination method were confirmed by molecular serotyping. PCR detection of the ST-17 clone was carried out for all serotype III strains whose serotyping was confirmed by molecular technique. The results obtained are shown in table 5.

A total of 3235 non-redundant vaginal samples were analyzed, 325 were positive for GBS and, among these, 113 strains were of serotype III (35%). Forty-seven (41.6%) out of the 113 serotype III strains were ST-17. In conclusion, GBS carriage was detected in 10% of the pregnant women studied and a serotype III strain was present in 34.76% of the colonized women. The percentage of ST-17 clone in this serotype III GBS population was 41.6%.

TABLE 5 Prevalence of the hypervirulent ST-17 clone among serotype III GBS isolated from vaginal samples of pregnant women. Vaginal samples^(a) Total 3235 GBS positive 325 (10%) Serotype III GBS 113 (3.5%, 34.8%) ST-17 clone 47 (1.5%, 14.5%) ^(a)The first and second percentage are calculated relative to the number of vaginal samples (n = 3235) or to the number of vaginal samples positive with GBS (n = 325).

It is worth noting that the epidemiological characteristics (serotype and ST-17 prevalence) of the GBS strains in pregnant women and in EOD are almost identical (see Table 3 and Table 5). This observation gives further support to our proposal that detection of the hyper-virulent clone ST-17 in vaginal sample should be carried out in order to ensure accurate follow up of babies colonized by this clone.

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1-41. (canceled)
 42. An antibody characterized in that it specifically recognizes the GBS surface protein of the clone ST-17 of GBS strains.
 43. The antibody of claim 42, wherein said surface protein has a sequence of SEQ ID NO 2, or a fragment thereof suitable for use in a process for the specific detection of a GBS strain of the ST-17 clone. 44-45. (canceled)
 46. Process for the in vitro detection of high-virulence GBS strain of ST-17 clone which comprises detecting the Gbs2018 surface protein of ST-17 clone or fragments thereof in a biological sample or targeting antibodies recognizing the Gbs2018 surface protein of the ST-17 clone or fragments thereof. 47-55. (canceled) 